Introducing Career Options

Setting the Stage

During their progress through a career development/preparation course or program, students will learn that many factors influence their career choices. One factor might be seen as having a larger or more encompassing influence than others - knowledge of available careers. The more careers students are aware of, the more connections they will be able to make to their current lives, school, and their future aspirations. This activity can also be used as a warm-up or class concluding activity throughout the year to reinforce students’ knowledge of careers.

Material & Preparation

• Arrange for computer and internet access for students working in pairs or groups.
• Download the Career Survey Reproducible (1 per student) [Google Doc] [PDF]

What to Do

This activity uses career profiles from the Let’s Talk Science career resources. Teachers can  create additional “career survey” activities from this resource. 

This activity involves a broad survey across different career sectors. Teachers could develop surveys that explore careers within a specific sector. 

After students have completed a set of career survey questions, teachers could lead debrief discussions that focuses on such things as:

• Interesting aspects of a career
• Interesting career pathways
• The link to high school courses 
• Something the students learned that surprised them
• Whether students could see themselves in one of th careers
• How lifelong learning factors into this career

Alternatively, teachers could organize students into groups of two or three to create their own surveys. Each student-generated survey could be used as a class warmup or closing activity throughout the school year.
Teachers could review students’ Career Survey sheets.